{"id":27011,"date":"2018-09-10T06:00:07","date_gmt":"2018-09-10T13:00:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/?p=27011"},"modified":"2025-08-19T04:18:04","modified_gmt":"2025-08-19T11:18:04","slug":"complete-guide-uzbekistan","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wearetravelgirls.com\/complete-guide-uzbekistan\/","title":{"rendered":"A COMPLETE GUIDE TO TRAVELING IN UZBEKISTAN (AND WHY YOU SHOULD ABSOLUTELY DO IT)"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I told people that I was going to Uzbekistan for 10 days, the reactions I got all shared a similar sentiment. \u201cWhy Uzbekistan?\u201d \u201cWhere is that?\u201d \u201cI literally know nothing about that place.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Truth is, I barely knew anything about traveling to Uzbekistan either. But having been to many \u201cpopular\u201d destinations in the past, I was thirsty to explore somewhere less-known; somewhere relatively untouched.<\/span><\/p>\n

As it turns out, Uzbekistan is actually not as hidden as I had thought \u2014 there were quite a lot of tourists \u2014 but it\u2019s still one of the most underrated and breathtaking places I\u2019ve ever visited. So here\u2019s a guide on what to do and what to expect in Uzbekistan. I hope it will convince you to pay a visit too!<\/span><\/p>\n

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BACK STORY: UZBEKISTAN AND THE SILK ROAD<\/h3>\n

If you don\u2019t have time to travel the entire length of the Silk Road, Uzbekistan is the perfect week-long glimpse into it. Located in the center of Eurasia, it played a key role back in the days not only in the trade of gold, silk, and spices but also of culture and religion.<\/span><\/p>\n

Missionaries, scholars, and musicians who passed by the Silk Road hubs of Samarkand, Bukhara, and Khiva brought Islamic art and teachings along with them. Today, you\u2019ll see these three key cities bustling with beautifully ornate madrasas, mosques, and minarets \u2014 scenes you\u2019d only expect to see inside a chapter of <\/span>One Thousand And One Nights<\/span><\/i>.<\/span><\/p>\n

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GETTING TO UZBEKISTAN \u2014 BY AIR OR BY CAR<\/h3>\n

Uzbekistan is one of only two double-landlocked countries in the world (the other one being Liechtenstein. This means that not only is it landlocked, but it\u2019s also surrounded by other landlocked countries. So the most common ways of getting to Uzbekistan are by air or by car.<\/span><\/p>\n

BY AIR<\/h4>\n

Flying is the easiest way to reach Uzbekistan. The main international airport is in Tashkent (TAS), but there\u2019s also one in Samarkand (SKD), which is where my partner and I flew into.<\/span><\/p>\n

Aeroflot and Turkish Airlines are the two main airlines that operate flights to Uzbekistan. You would therefore either have a layover in Moscow or in Istanbul somewhere on your journey. My partner and I took the Aeroflot route from London. The flight was around four hours to Moscow and another four hours from Moscow to Samarkand.<\/span><\/p>\n

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BY CAR<\/h4>\n

It is definitely possible to do a roadtrip around Central Asia, covering Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Tajikistan as well. Taxis and buses are also available to help you cross the borders into Uzbekistan.<\/span><\/p>\n

There are three main border crossings between Kazakhstan and Uzbekistan in the cities of Gisht Kuprik, Chinaz, and Kungrad. From Kyrgyzstan, the main border crossings are at Gisht Kuprik, Khanabad, and Andijan. In Tajikistan, Dushanbe (its capital) is about 55 km from the border of Uzbekistan in Denau. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some borders do have opening hours. For example, if you\u2019re planning to enter through Gisht Kuprik, be sure to do so between 7am\u20139pm (Tashkent time).<\/span><\/p>\n

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Pay Less, Travel More eBook<\/h2>

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ABOUT THE UZBEKISTAN VISA<\/h3>\n

If you\u2019re a citizen of the European Union or other select countries such as the USA, Canada, India, and Australia (there are many more too), you\u2019re eligible for an e-visa. This means you simply have to fill out a standard <\/span>online application<\/span><\/a> (without needing a letter of invitation), and you\u2019ll receive your visa to visit Uzbekistan via e-mail within two working days. You can find more information about the e-visas <\/span>here<\/span>, including whether you\u2019re eligible for it.<\/span><\/p>\n

If you\u2019re not eligible for e-visas, you will need a letter of invitation, which isn\u2019t as hard to obtain as it may sound. There are many travel agencies that can do that for you, online. The one my partner used is <\/span>Global Connect<\/span><\/a> and it cost around $65. He then applied for his visa in person through the embassy and received it within one week. We found the visa procedure to be fairly simple overall and did not encounter any issues at all.<\/span><\/p>\n

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WHAT TO SEE IN UZBEKISTAN \u2014 A SAMPLE ITINERARY<\/h3>\n

While it\u2019s feasible to cover the main attractions of Uzbekistan in one week, my partner and I found that spending 10 days in this country was ideal. This gave us the perfect amount of time to really absorb everything and relax while sightseeing. Below are the main cities to visit, along with their must-see spots.<\/span><\/p>\n

SAMARKAND<\/h4>\n

How long you should stay<\/b>: 2-3 days<\/span><\/h5>\n

Founded in the 7th century B.C., Samarkand<\/a> is one of the oldest cities in Central Asia. Its geographic location in the center of major trade routes attracted a lot of travelers and invaders. It has been captured by both Alexander the Great in 329 BC and Genghis Khan in 1220. In the 14th century, it became the capital of the Timurid Empire.<\/span><\/p>\n

Through the course of its history, it has been ruled by Persians, Greeks, Turks, Mongols, Chinese, and Russians. Half a dozen religions have found a home here. Today, it is the second largest city in Uzbekistan and part of the UNESCO World Heritage, listed as \u2018Samarkand \u2014 Crossroads of Cultures.\u2019<\/span><\/p>\n

Must-see places in Samarkand<\/b><\/h5>\n